American Football – Unbeatable Ritsumeikan, the culmination of Kansai University’s proud hotline QB Keita Suda and WR Shunto Mizoguchi 4 years |

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Kandai QB Keita Suda (left) and WR Shuto Mizoguchi hold the key to victory against Ritsumeikan (Photo by Daisuke Shinohara)

The first big game of the season will be held on October 14 in the Kansai Student League Division 1 American Football League. The Kansai University Kaisers, who lost to Kindai University in Round 2, will face the Ritsumeikan University Panthers, who won all four games. If the pass from QB (quarterback) Captain Keita Suda (4th year, Kandai University), who is the symbol of Kansai University’s offense, to ace WR (wide receiver) Shunto Mizoguchi (4th year, Takigawa) does not pass , it will be a tough battle. Now it’s time to show the culmination of the Kaisers hotline. On top of that is the road to participating in the Koshien Bowl for the first time in 15 years.

Suda: “I can go anytime”, Mizoguchi: “I’m on fire”

Kansai University’s QB Suda was injured in a close game they lost and missed the next two games. On October 9, when the press conference was held at Kansai University for the Ritsumeikai match, Suda spoke quietly about his condition, saying, “I’m ready to go anytime.” , WR Mizoguchi revealed that he was injured about a month before the first game of the league. He added, “I’ve changed the way I use my butt muscles since then, and I feel like I’m in really good shape now. I feel really fired up.” I want to win.” .”

QB Suda in the Kwansei Gakuin War last fall. Was named player of the year and received an award after the Koshien Bowl game (Photo by Naoki Kitagawa)

While Suda started playing football in the 5th grade of elementary school and became an ace QB in his freshman year at Kansai University, Mizoguchi played on the high school softball team. After retirement, he participated in the practice of the American football team, but he started seriously at Kansai University. His big break came in the second fall league game of his sophomore year, against Kobe University. He gained 167 yards on six catches and scored two touchdowns. From there, he quickly became an ace, catching and running passes from Suda.

After the autumn season of his second year, he became a member of the All-Japan selection team together with the adult X League players and experienced international matches. Last year, I studied abroad in America. However, he suffered a serious injury in the second match in the rainy season. While the days cannot be described, the friends of Kansai University beat Kansai University in the last game of the league (the three schools tied for the victory, but they did not advance to the All-Japan University Championship due to a lottery held according to regulations). “I want to play Koshien (Bowl) with my classmates.” Mizoguchi cut short his studies abroad and returned to Kansai University this spring.

Mizoguchi supported Kansai University’s victory two years ago in the Ritsumeikan War with four catches and 123 yards (Photo by Naoki Kitagawa)

After losing to Kindai, the team finally changed.

In the spring, Mizoguchi said, “Suda and I will win Kandai,” but things were not going well. I was late due to an injury in the summer. When he was at a disadvantage in a close game, he was quickly carried and caught a TD pass from Suda, but suffered a painful loss. Suda, last year’s Player of the Year, is also struggling. Although he became a captain while playing the demanding QB position, he struggled to build a team. “The 4th graders never come forward,” “They make too many mistakes in practice,” “They’re so proud, and they get carried away when it matters most Now, we’re just a team that looks like a bunch of Yankees country.” Every time I met him after the spring opening game, the captain’s expression turned cloudy.

Suda was injured in the nearby battle. During the next two games, he watched his teammates battle from the sideline (Photo by Naoki Kitagawa)

The team finally started to change after the painful defeat. Suda said. “We can now face our weaknesses instead of running from them.” Looking ahead to the Ritsumeikan match, which he could never afford to lose, he stated, “I want to compete with my heart.” student, even if your opponent’s strength is 100 and you are 75, there is definitely a part that you can turn things around in your spirit. I want to play so I don’t lose.

I asked Mizoguchi, “Do you think you became a receiver because of a QB named Keita Suda?” He replied, “Of course.” “Everyone knows that Suda works harder than anyone since he was young I learned about Suda’s humanity and his feelings towards American football are also amazing, but the pitches of Suda is special in their speed and extension.”

“Even if I have to quit playing in America, I want to do my best at Kansai University,” said Mizoguchi (Photo by Daisuke Shinohara)

Put everything you have accumulated into the battle for Ritsumeikan.

So far, Suda and Mizoguchi’s hotline has only been connected once. This is the aforementioned TD from Near War. Late in the third quarter, trailing by 11 points, 3rd down from near the middle of the field with 10 yards left. Suda tried to roll right, but his original target was covered and he couldn’t throw it. Then Mizoguchi, running from left to deep center, changed course and ran toward the left side of the end zone. Suda saw it while running away to the left and waved his right arm. The ball landed in Mizoguchi’s hands near the pylon in front of the left end zone. The moment Suda threw the pass, he was hit hard by the opposing player.

The interaction between QB and WR, the distance of the pass, and the control. By all means, this is the best Japanese student football game. Suda turned around. “At that time, I was just thinking about doing my best, and that’s why I achieved this result because I played with him, and I had faith that he could do it, so it shows in the result.” ‘I think so.

Mizoguchi (No. 1, photo by Naoki Kitagawa) celebrates with his teammates after receiving a TD pass from Suda during the Meiji War.

When asked about Mizoguchi after returning from America, Suda said the following. “I feel that the atmosphere he creates has become more mature so far, he can be selfish and selfish, but when I see him in practice while thinking about what he can do to help the team win, he really is. good.”I think even though the pressure is on and I can’t see the cover, I feel very calm knowing that if I drop it, he can do it. so I hope people pay attention to that.”

After suffering an injury in World War II, Suda returned to his roots as a QB. “After the injury, I was able to throw more and more. I realized from practice that such passes are difficult to cut or intercept, and I thought that if I pass with confidence and raise my arms as much as I can. , I can do something. Saying that, Suda laughed.

Of course, Suda and Mizoguchi were not alone. Vice-captain Keisuke Okamoto (4th year, Kansai University), who led the receivers after Mizoguchi left last year, said, “As an offensive leader, I will make plays that help on the team that will win.” All members of the Kaisers will put everything they have accumulated from the past year against the Panthers.

2024 Kaisers unite and face Panthers (Photo by Daisuke Shinohara)